Noir crime fiction doesn't get any better than this. Hark meets switchboard operator Lucy and her leads result in some shocking revelations about Ivy's disappearance.
THE GOOD ASIAN #3
Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artist: Alexandre Tefenkgi, Lee Loughridge
Letterer & Designer: Jeff Powell
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: July 7, 2021
Cover Price: $3.99
The surprises really begin as Hark encounters Lucy Fong's completely different perspective on
Chinatown - one pivotal to stopping the hatchetman on the loose.
Score:
★★★★★ (5/5)
In only three issues so far, what Pornsak Pichetshote, Alexandre Tefenkgi, and Lee Loughridge have accomplished in 'The Good Asian' is a monumental achievement in storytelling that's immersive and relevant. As dense and as enthralling as any crime fiction novel written in prose, 'The Good Asian' plunges readers deep into the world of Edison Hark full of mystery, twists, and multi-dimensional characters. The story intertwined with historical accuracy about time and place only adds to the weight of the narrative revealing a society that has evolved ever so slightly since then. It's a sobering aspect that isn't lost on the reader while being entertaining and engrossed in the mystery of the missing Ivy Chen.
Issue three takes the perspective of Lucy Fan who's an operator at the Chinatown Telephone Exchange. She's privy to all the calls coming into town as well as all the gossip amid operators as well. It can sometimes be too much gossip but she manages. She lives with her overprotective father who won't let her sing out in public. She's sitting down with Detective Hark to see if there's information that could help in finding Ivy's whereabouts.
Pichetshote adds another interesting character whose unique perspective provides depth and context to life as a young Chinese-American woman in 1936's San Francisco. Her indirect ties to Ivy lead Hark to explore deeper into the tight-knit community and their distrust of the police. Even a Chinese detective is looked upon with suspicion. Their interviews lead to some revealing information. While the reader has never met Ivy, much like Hark himself, a picture begins to form about who she was and the company she kept. The story continues to unfold slowly just as a real police investigation would with the following of thin leads and lucky breaks. It makes for a great cliffhanger at the end of the issue.
There is a sort of lyricism to the pacing and visual literacy from artists Alexandre Tefenkgi and Lee Loughridge. They create a symbiotic relationship with the script where neither can exist without the other. It's hard to imagine anyone else illustrating this comic so well composed and colored. Each character captured in a solid color of their own and scenes bathed in monochromatic colors separating the time and space they're in. It's moody, melancholy, and magnificent. The creators pay homage to the noir crime fiction tropes we know in appearance and style but add their own touches that make it unique and engaging. Any fan of crime fiction would absolutely love this.
'The Good Asian' continues to surprise and suck in readers in one hell of a mystery. The historical lessons are hard to fathom but provide the foundation for where this story takes place. The introduction of Lucy takes the story to a whole different level while also revealing more of Hark, good and bad. As the mystery deepens and new leads reveal new revelations, 'The Good Asian' solidifies itself as one of the best comics of the year in any genre.
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